UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty as feds push death penalty
Luigi Mangione, the man accused of
shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
, pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges related to murder and stalking in connection with Thompson's death.
Mangione, 26, is alleged to have fatally shot Thompson outside his hotel in
New York City
on December 4, 2024. He was indicted last week on four federal charges, including murder, in relation to the alleged crime.
Prosecutors are
pushing for the death penalty
. Despite their seemingly stern stance towards the defendant, the prosecution stated it would not pursue additional charges against the alleged killer. The judge instructed
prosecutors to present all evidence
they have against the 26 year old within the next 30 days.
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Mangione, 26, is alleged to have fatally shot Thompson outside his hotel in New York City
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Thompson's premeditated murder ignited public outrage against insurance companies and the American health care system, which has long been viewed as profit-driven. Mangione has also garnered significant public support, with some even protesting his incarceration outside the courthouse where his trial is taking place.
On Friday, messaging trucks circling the NYC federal court displayed a message reading: "US insurers DENY treatment, DELAYS care & DEFEND their bottom lines at the cost of lives."
Mangione has garnered significant public support
(Image: Getty Images)
Back in February, a crowd of supporters gathered outside a federal courthouse to back the 26 year old during his trial by showing solidarity. Many were donning green caps with nods to "Luigi" from the Mario Bros Nintendo franchise and wielding placards emblazoned with slogans such as "Free Luigi" and "Health care is a human right."
Prosecutors are hinging their case on the 26 year old's most serious accusation of gun-related murder, hoping it will secure a capital verdict as indicated by the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York. Following Attorney General Pam Bondi's call for Mangiones execution upon a guilty finding, the Department of Justice laid down a motion for the death penalty last Thursday.
Activist and whistleblower Chelsea Manning condemned the DOJ's "expedited" case against Mangione
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Besides facing the major accusations, the 26 year old must also contend with other charges across New York and
Pennsylvania
stemming from the manhunt that ensued when Mangione barely eluded capture in NYC. The accused has proclaimed innocence against murder and terrorism offenses lodged in New York.
Activist and whistleblower Chelsea Manning addressed the media on Friday afternoon, decrying the DOJ's approach to the dual proceedings against the 26 year old, which she claimed were being "expedited" and branded as not "constitutional."
When a journalist probed whether Mangione's assault on Thompson was supportable, Manning skillfully evaded the inquiry, emphasizing instead her belief in "a fair justice system."
Bondi's advocacy for capital punishment is expected to align with President Donald Trump's agenda of increasing executions, a practice that was largely paused during the Biden era. Manning, a former Army intelligence analyst, served approximately seven years in prison for stealing classified diplomatic cables.
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